I'll go with the glass half full crowd. Was an entertaining game and makes me hopeful about the year. Yes, pieces are missing but we're moving in the right direction.

Success will lie to you but failure always tells you the truth.

sorry didn't see earlier comments, I'll just bring a picture of a two posts a crossbar and a direction arrow in that case

New manager. New system. Key players missing. What do people expect exactly?

Brentford weren't bad but late in the game they seemed jaded and there for the taking. We didn't seem to sense it enough.

Guehi and Anderson look special. Mitchell looks like he might be able to grow in this kind of team (and needs to).

Wilf had a stinker but let's not assume his career is at the end of the road.

Gallagher was energetic but a bit of a headless chicken. Schlupp similar. Kouyate better in the second half to the first. But lacked composure.

Jimmy Mac was good for his age. And was outright good. But we are quite reliant on him.

So much falls apart at the feet of ward in this system..

If you want to live in a world full of kindness, respect and love, try to show these qualities.

A result is a result. We were more fun to watch, and the defense gives me more confidence than it ever did last season. Andersen is a rock, Guehi dependable, Ward looked serviceable this week, and Mitchell... well, at least he didn't get BADLY beaten. (He passed poorly, though, and didn't look as focused as he did when trying to earn his time on the pitch.)

We showed much better energy at midfield; it's a shame we don't have Eze. Gallagher played a strong first half but ran out of steam. His fitness is suspect. Maca played another age-defying game, eager and disciplined from start to finish.

In past seasons, Wilf would have scared a team like Brentford for 94 minutes. Today, hardly ever. I'm worried that he has lost all motivation even to wow the crowd occasionally. He played, as we say in American football, like a JAG: Just Another Guy. Benteke unfortunately played like the Benteke of old – well, middle age: solid holdup play followed by missed opportunities for himself and teammates. Schlupp was JAG, and Ayew tried too hard to impress, missing chances to find teammates.

The defense is good enough, though better teams than Brentford will exploit Ward and Mitchell. On attack, we won't score many goals unless Wilf remembers how he used to love beating people, and Gallagher becomes comfortable with his teammates. Or Parish restructures Benteke's contract and pays him by the goal and assist.
And Eze & Olise get healthy and play hungry.

To win some home games would be a good start!